Apparatus for raising submerged objects.



Patented Oct. 17, 1916 R. ONEAL.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED OBJECTS.

APPLICATloN FILED SEPT. 28. |915.

v /NVE/VTR ATTORNEYS ROBERT ONEAL, HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

y APPARATUS FORRAISING SUBMERGED OBJECTS'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 1v, i916.

Application filed September 28, 1915. Serial No. 53,071.

To all whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, ROBERT ONEAL, a citizen of the United States, and at present residing in Honolulu, in the Territory of Hawaii, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Raising Submerged Objects, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a means for raising sunken vessels or other submerged ob- Jects.

The prime object of the invention is to provide an efcientapparatus for the indicated purpose of simple form which may be easily operated and controlled.

In carrying out the invention, a pontoon is provided adapted to revolve on its axis. Means is provided at the periphery of the pontoon, whereby the mass may be varied at predetermined places at the periphery to create a torque for turning the pontoon on its axis, together with means controlled by the turning of the pontoon for raising the submerged object when connected with the latter. For the purpose of varying the mass,

the pontoon is provided with pockets at the periphery disposed symmetrically thereon, and they are adapted to separately contain a fluid so that water, for instance, may be pumped therein or therefrom, thus varying the flotation at opposite sides of a vertical plane and giving the necessary turningy movement of the pontoon.

The invention will be more particularly` explained in the specific description follow-z ing.

Reference is to be had 'to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a revolving pontoon embodying my invention on the line 1-1, Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2, Fig.1; Fig. 3 is an end view; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view indicating the manner of raising and towing a submerged vessel in accordance with my invention.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example, a pontoon, 10, is provided, which may be cylindrical or many sided. The hollow interior of the pontoon may be formed in separate compartments 11. At the axis of the pontoon on each end thereof, a drum or shaft 12, is provided at the exterior, adapted toV receive cable 13, or like flexible medium of a length to be secured to a submerged vessel A, or other submerged object for raising the same. On the pontoon 10, extending longitudinally thereof at the periphery, are a series of pockets 14, each of whichis provided with means whereby fluid may be pumped thereinto or therefrom. The hollow interior 11, whether in one or more compartments is similarly equipped. In the present instance I have shown a valved connection 16, communicating with the compartments 11, at 15 and similar connections 18 communicating with each pocket 14, as at 17, thus a pumping connection may be established between any pocket 14, or compartment 11, and a tug or a towing vessel B, or other pumping means for filling or emptying a particular pocket or compartment at any time whether the pontoon be submerged or at the surface. For the purpose a hose may be connected from the tug, or the like, lwith the valves 16. With the described construction, if it is desired to raise a submerged object A, Fig. 4, the cables 13 are fastened thereto and the pontoon 10, is submerged to the desired extent. If a starting lift is desired to be given to the submerged object, then the compartments 11, will first be filled or substantially so, and then pumped out so that the bodily flotation' of the pontoon will lift the submerged object. LThe turning of the pontoon on its own axis can be generally relied upon, however, for raising the sunken object by winding the cables 13. In order to give the turning movement to the pontoon, it being assumed that a given number of pockets at the top of the pontoon will be empty, a predetermined number is pumped full with water and the preponderance of weight at that side of the pontoon will cause the same to turn on its axis and wind up the cablesy 13. In order to brace and control the cables 13, I may provide a lever 19, having a ring screw 24, may be employed. After the submerged object has been raised sulliciently,

the pontoon with said object suspended by! the cables 18, may be towed by a vessel B and tow line 25, (Fig. 4). In practice the towing vessel is merely a means that may be employed where it is required to bring` the sunken object into shoal water and where derstood, is given merely as one simple embodiment of my invention and, I wish to state in conclusion that Ido not; limit myself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated since manifestly the same can be considerably variedwithout departure fromthe spirit of the invention asy defined in the appended claims.

Havingv thus described my invention, It

claim as new anddesire to .secure by Letters Patenti:

lf. A revoluble pontoon having means whereby the mass ofthe pontoonmay be varied at predetermined places at the periphery to create atorquefor turning the pontoon on its axis.

2. A revoluble pontoon having means whereby the mass of the pontoonY may, be varied: at'predetermined-places at the periphery to create a torque for turning the pontoon on itsaxis; together` with means controlled by. the turning ofthe pontoon, for raising a submerged object.

3. An. apparatus for raising sunken o bjects, including ak pontoon, adapted lto revolve on its, axis andy having` an annular series of separate pockets, serving to give submergence or flotation as predetermined;

pockets are filled or emptied to turn thel pontoon on itsaxis, and means forraising `a submerged ,object by said turning movement of;

the pontoon.

4. An apparatusfor raising sunken,` objects, including va pontoon adapted j to` revolve on its axis, and Awinding meanson said` pontoon andadaptedto turn therewith to` lift a submerged object and actuated by the turning of the pontoon l on .its axis.v

5. An. apparatus forI raisingvsunkeni 0b-v jects,vincluding a revolving pontoon, having a main central chamber, and having an an-r nular series` ofpockets c about the .central chamber, said pockets having means whereby the saine may be charged or emptied for submergence orflotation, to turn the pontoon on its axis by the emptying and filling of predeterminedpockets, the said central chamber having also means whereby to fill or empty the same for submergence or flotation, and means to lift the submerged object by the turning movement of the pontoon on its axis.

6.An apparatus for raising sunken objects, including. a. revolving pontoon having an annular series of pockets adapted to be separatelyffilledI or, emptied for relative submergence or flotationl of; the pockets at opposite sides of the perpendicular line passing through the axis of the pontoon, and means tolift a submerged object by the turning movementv ofthe pontoon on its axis in response to the relative iotation of predetermined; pockets.

7. An apparatusfor. raising sunken objects, including a pontoon, adapted to revolve about its axis, andhavingaseries of pockets.l symmetrically disposedr about said axis, eachpocket having `means whereby to fillA orempty the same, the pockets thus being adapted to givea turning movement to the pontoonby variationinthe massA at the pockets, lifting element adapted, for connection witha submergedobject, andmeans for.I winding said lifting. element. by said turning movement of the ponton.

8. An apparatus forjraising sunken objectsincluding a pontoon, adapted to revolve on itslown axis and having an annular series of pockets about ysaid yaxis, the pockets being providedwitli means to separately fill orV empty the same forsubmergence or flotation, a4 flexible. element` adapted for. connectionnwitli asubmerged object, means at the axis of the pontoon `to wind said .element by a turning movement, ofthe pontoon on its axis in ,responseto variations in itliemass at the pockets as predetermined pockets are filled goreinptied, and ,-a ,controlling device on the. pontoon for said flexible element.

Inwitness 4whereof Lhavesigned my name tothis specification liiithepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT ONEAL. Witnesses:

WALTER E. WALL,

HUsHiNGHAM. 

